Just a bit ago, we brought you Cadillac CT5 spy shots. That model will take on the likes of the BMW 3 series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class while being slightly larger than those vehicles. Now, we have spy shots of the model set to slot under the Cadillac CT5. The vehicle in question will be called either Cadillac CT3 or CT4 and will compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and Audi A3 family.
Spotted high-altutide testing in Colorado, the CT3 was captured entering a very classy establishment in the greater Denver area, as its drivers went in for dinner. Though the prototype clearly uses the body of the current ATS sedan, it is an early development mule, since it just doesn’t sit quite right on its wheelbase.
Another tell-tale sign that we are looking at a prototype model is that the exhaust sticks out several inches past the rear end of the body. This is a common indicator that an automaker is testing the chassis of an upcoming vehicle while using the body of an existing model, which is not yet ready.
Recently, we saw GM’s Cadillac unit employ the same practice to develop the upcoming Cadillac XT6, while using the body of a Cadillac XT5. That prototype also had its exhaust extending several inches past its body, indicating that the vehicle being tested will be longer than the XT5.
There isn’t much more that we know about the upcoming sub-CT5 Cadillac model, except that it will use Cadillac’s rear-drive-based Alpha platform and be made at the GM Lansing Grand River plant, which currently builds the ATS, CTS, and sixth-generation Chevy Camaro.
Stay tuned as we learn more on this first day of April.
Comments
?? i was wondering when the april 1st articles were going to come out.
Did ya like Marshall Pruett’s “Halo’s for WEC cars!” over on Racer? Got me good!
I was hoping for a reveal of the mid-engine Cadillac…
There is a replacement for ATS (CT3 or CT4).
There is indeed. But this ain’t it 🙂
It would be a cool idea to use the old body to test a new model, instead of the camo.
This car could simply be a lowered ATS with custom exhaust.
They are already employing that technique (old body on a new model)… and have been for a while. Here’s but one example:
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2018/02/refreshed-cadillac-xt5-spied-but-photos-potentially-show-something-more/
The car in the pics is mine… it’s a stock ATS with an exhaust, as you said.
We posted it because of the date 🙂
The present CTS was tested under the old body and the C5 Corvette was tested under a Camro body and C7 under a C6 at one time.
The Camaro was in the Corvette museum last I heard.
It is a much more common practice than you think or notice some times.
Would have been funny with a Spark Mule in camo calling it the CT1 and doing earlier in the day on the First.
Another is a photo of the C8 and calling it the Cadillac CTM sports car. You would have caught a lot of fish with that.
Good points Scott3. It also might have been funny to show the Chevy Spark in camo and claim it was going to be sold as the “Fleetwood”, using that name for the first time since the 1990’s and breaking (again) with JdN’s recent naming conventions.
The Corvette C8 looks very cool, though it might be viewed as “The poor man’s Ford GT”. Still, for $70k vs. the $500k + you have to convince Ford you are worthy, the C8 might sell pretty well.
As someone who was recently looking at an ATS to buy I thought this car looked very similar if the not the same lol. So I’m not crazy. April fools!
Crazy no. Observant……………lol!
Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen not very long ago disclosed that the ATS replacement would only be a coupe and yet this 4-door sedan is supposed to be the upcoming ATS replacement which means de Nysschen has changed his mind or GM’s Board of Directors overruled him.
I was about to say…..This can not be the actual replacement, nothing different at all from the current model just a test mule for really lies ahead.
Got It!!
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/apos-top-5-automaker-april-124000826.html
Now these are funny.
Alex what year , trim, rwd or awd and engine is your ATS ?
4/2/2018 , I’ll admit it—- Hook , line and sinker !
First thought was I hope this isn’t it . 🙂